First published 2000
The Rosen family navigates the complexities of middle-class life as they attempt to blend in with their suburban neighbors. Lena Rosen watches her family members each grapple with what it means to be normal in a world that seems to have clear rules they cannot quite grasp. Her husband works to provide stability while questioning his own choices. Their children face the particular challenge of growing up caught between their parents' immigrant background and their American present. Each family member discovers that the pursuit of normalcy comes with unexpected costs. The Rosens must decide whether conformity is worth sacrificing the parts of themselves that make them unique. Bender explores how ordinary families create meaning in their daily lives while wrestling with belonging and acceptance.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century, realistic-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: America, Suburbs
Period: 21st Century
384 pages · Hardcover · G.K. Hall & Co